Door mounted cervical variable weight traction unit

ABSTRACT

A support assembly for stationary support from a suitable structure and including a support arm pivotally supported therefrom for swinging in a vertical plane about a horizontal transverse axis. An elongated upright tension member is provided and one end portion of the arm defines an anchor point to which the upper end of the upright tension member is attached. The lower end portion of the tension member has a head sling supported therefrom and a weight is carried by the arm and adjustable therealong relative to the axis of oscillation of the arm for swinging the arm, by gravity weighting, in a direction causing the lower end portion of the tension member and the head sling supported therefrom to be urged upwardly, whereby an upward force may be exerted upon a person&#39;&#39;s head engaged by the sling.

[15] 3,654,922 [4 1 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] DOOR MOUNTED CERVICAL VARIABLEWEIGHT TRACTION UNIT [72] Inventor: Dale E. Outcalt, PO. Box 84, FlatRock,

22 Filed: July 10, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 53,911

761,504 5/1904 Kleinbach ..l28/75X Primary Examiner-Richard A. GaudetAssistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B.Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A support assembly for stationary support from asuitable structure and including a support arm pivotally supported [52]US. Cl ..128/75 therefrom for Swinging in a vertical plane about ahorizontal [5 IIII. transverse i An elongated p g tension member is pFleld 0 Search 83, 84, i d and one end portion of the arm defines ananchor Point to which the upper end of the upright tension member is at-[56] References cued tached. The lower end portion of the tension memberhas a UNITED STATES PATENTS head sling supported therefrom and a weightis carried by the arm and ad ustable therealong relative to the axis ofoscilla- 2,81 1,965 1 H1957 Richards ..128/75 i f h arm f r swinging thearm, by gravity weighting, in a 2,3 1958 Sanders 1 28/75 directioncausing the lower end portion of the tension member 3,068,859 12/1962Treutelaar l 28/75 and the head sling supported therefrom to be urgedupwardly, 2,658,506 11/1953 Haskell ...128/75 whereby an upward forcemay be exerted upon a persons 2,843,] head engaged the ling 2,938,6955/1960 Ciampa ....128/75 X 2,712,820 7/1955 Robinson 128/75 6 Claims, 2Drawing Figures gm-I 60 62 DOOR MOUNTED CERVICAL VARIABLE WEIGHTTRACTION UNIT The traction unit of the instant invention has beenspecifically designed to be utilized by persons at home, although theunit may also be utilized in clinics where available space for treatmentequipment is limited.

The traction unit is constructed in a manner whereby it may be readilystationarily supported from the upper marginal edge portion of ahorizontally swingable door which is disposed in an open position. Theunit includes a mounting bracket portion which may be clampingly engagedover the upper marginal edge portion of the associated open door and ahorizontal support arm is supported from and projects generallyhorizontally outwardly from the mounting bracket portion. The outer endof the support arm defines an anchor point from which a pulley sheave issupported and a lift arm is provided beneath and generally parallel tothe support arm with its end portion corresponding to the base end ofthe support arm pivotally supported from the mounting bracket portionfor oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis. The free swingingend of the lift arm defines an anchor point to which one end of anelongated flexible tension member is secured and the tension memberextends upwardly from the free end of the lift arm, over the pulleysheave and then downwardly from the latter. The lower depending end ofthe tension member has a head sling supported therefrom and a weight iscarried by and adjustable along the lift arm whereby the outer end ofthe lift arm may be gravity weighted downwardly in order to pullupwardly upon the head sling.

By constructing the mounting bracket portion of the unit for readysupport from the upper marginal edge portion of a horizontally swingabledoor, the unit may be utilized in substantially any building structure.Further, the unit may be readily removably mounted on the associateddoor and the position of the weight carried by the lift arm may beadjusted so as to apply an adjustable upward pull on the head sling.

The main object of this invention is to provide a cervical variableweight traction unit that may be readily utilized by patients at homeand in clinics and hospitals where space for treatment equipment islimited.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a traction unit whose structuralcomponents may be readily fabricated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a traction unitconstructed in a manner so as to enable even unexperienced patients toutilize the unit at home without fear of misusing the unit.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a traction unit in accordance with the preceding objectswhich will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of ahorizontally swingable door and with the traction unit of the instantinvention illustrated as supported from the upper edge portion of thedoor; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG.1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generallydesignates a horizontally swingable door including a free swinging edge12 and an upper marginal edge portion 14.

The traction unit of the instant invention is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 16 and defines a support assembly for stationarymounting from a suitable support structure such as the door 10.

The unit includes a mounting bracket assembly referred to in general bythe reference numeral 18 and including a clamp assembly referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 20 and a support arm structurereferredto in general by the reference numeral 22. The clamp assembly 20includes a pair of inverted right and left hand L-shaped plates 24 and26 and it will be noted that the plate 24 includes a vertical flange 28and an upper horizontal flange 30 while the plate 26 includes a verticalflange 32 and an upper horizontal flange 34. The horizontal flange 30 islapped over the horizontal flange 34 so as to define a channel 36between the confronting inner surfaces of the flanges 28 and 32 and theinner surface of the flanges 28 and 30 are covered by a protectivecoating 38 while the inner surfaces of the flanges 32 and 34 are coveredby a protective coating 40.

The horizontal flange 30 has an elongated transverse slot 42 formedtherein whose side walls are downwardly convergent and the horizontalflange 34 has a threaded aperture 44 formed therein which is registeredwith the slot 42 when the flange 30 is lapped over the flange 34 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. A fastener 46 is providedand includes a beveled head portion seated in the slot 42 and a threadedshank portion threadedly engaged in the aperture 44 whereby the flanges30 and 34 are releasably retained in adjusted overlapped positionaccording to the thickness of the door 12 received in the channel 36defined between the vertical flanges 28 and 32.

The support arm assembly or structure 22 includes an upper horizontalrod whose inner end is fixedly secured by welding 48 to the outersurface of the flange 32 and the rod 50 projects outwardly from theflange 32 at right angles relative thereto and is formed at its free endso as to define an upwardly opening hook 52. The support arm assembly 22also includes an elongated bracing rod 54 whose inner end is secured tothe outer surfaces of the flange 26 as by welding 56 at a point spacedbelow the inner end of the rod 50. The outer end of the rod 54 issecured in any convenient manner to the outer end of the rod 50immediately inwardly of the hook 52. In this manner, a strong supportamt assembly is provided.

The unit 16 further includes an apertured mounting lug 58 which issupported from and projects outwardly from the outer surface of theflange 32 below the rod 54 and the inner end of a lift arm 60 ispivotally supported from the mounting lug 58 by a pivot fastener 62. Thelift arm 60 generally parallels the support arm structure 22 and has aplurality of upwardly opening notches 64 formed in its upper marginaledge portion 66 at points spaced longitudinally therealong.

A pulley wheel assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral68 and including an integral eye portion 70 has its eye portion engagedwith the hook 52 whereby the assembly 68 is removably supported from thesupport arm assembly 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings. The assembly 66 includes a journaled pulley wheel 72 and theupper end portion of an upstanding tension member 74 is passed over thepulley wheel 72 with the depending upper terminal end portion of thetension member 74 secured through an aperture 76 formed in the outer endof the lift arm 60.

A stop member 78 is carried by the long depending end portion of thetension member 74 for engagement with the assembly 68 and the extremelower end of the long leg of the tension member 74 has a hook member 80supported therefrom.

A head sling referred to in general by the reference numeral 82 isprovided and includes an upper anchor member 84 provided with an eye 86with which the hook 80 is engaged. The opposite ends of an elongatedstrap 88 are anchored through slots formed in the opposite ends of theanchor member 84 and the lower looped end 90 of the strap 88 defines achin loop. An elongated brace referred to in general by the referencenumeral 92 is provided and comprises a pair of end overlapped andaligned sections 94 and 96 whose lapped ends are secured together inadjusted extended positions by means of fasteners 98 secured throughregistered slots 100 formed in the sections 94 and 96. The opposite endsof the sections 94 and 96 are provided with fixed upstanding bucklemembers 102 through which the opposite end portions of the strap 88 arepassed for frictional engagement with the buckle members 102 in theopposite ends of the sections 94 and 96.

The sling 82 further includes an adjustable strap loop 104 whoseopposite ends are secured to the strap 88 at points spaced below thebuckle members 102 as at 106. The strap member 104 includes adjustablyoverlapped strap section ends secured together in adjusted extendedpositions by means of a buckle 108 and accordingly, the strap member 104may be adjusted to suit the shape and size of the head of the user ofthe unit 16.

The unit 16 further includes a spherical weight 110 including a supporthook 1 12 which may be engaged with a selected notch 64 so as toposition the weight 110 at the desired distance from the axis ofoscillation of the lift arm 60 relative to the clamp assembly 20.

In operation, a person desiring to utilize the unit 16 may first adjustthe spacing between the flanges 28 and 32 in order that the clampassembly 20 may be snugly embraced with the upper marginal edge portion14 of the door 10. Then, the clamp assembly 20 is engaged with the uppermarginal edge portion of the door 10. Thereafter, the user of the unitmay apply the head sling 82 to his head and the weight 1 may besupported from the lift arm 60 with the hook 112 engaged with thedesired notch 64. In this manner, the weight 110 will serve to urgedownwardly, by gravity, on the outer free end of the lift arm 60 so asto pull downward on the short upper depending end of the tension member74 and thus effect a pull upward on the anchor member 84.

The clamp assembly 20 is capable of being adjusted so as to snuglyreceive the upper marginal edge portions of various width doors therein.In this manner, the unit 16 may be utilized in substantially anybuilding structure provided with horizontally swingable doors. Ofcourse, the unit 16 does not require a support stand or base nor asupport standard and thus, it may be quite compactly stored when not inuse. Also, when the weight 110 is removed, the unit 16 has little weightand it may therefore be readily engaged with the upper marginal edgeportion of the door 10 and with little difficulty. Further, the weight110 and its support hook 112 are constructed in a manner whereby theweight 110 and its support hook 1 12 may be readily engaged with thelift arm 60 after the head sling 82 has been engaged with the head of auser of the unit 16.

It is believe that it will be readily apparent that the unit 16, even ifconstructed of expensive non-corrosive metallic materials, may bemanufactured at a reasonable cost for use in hospitals and clinics. Inaddition, less expensive units constructed of less expensive materialsmay be readily produced at considerably lower costs with the units stillbeing fully capable of withstanding repeated use over long periods oftime.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A support assembly for stationary mounting from a suitable supportstructure, said support assembly including a base adapted for mountingon said support structure and including a horizontally outwardlyprojecting support arm, a lift arm including a first inner end pivotallysupported from said base below the inner end of the support arm forrotation about a horizontal axis relative to the base and including anouter end spaced below the outer end of the support arm, tension memberguide means carried by the outer end of the support arm, an elongatedflexible tension member looped over the guide means and including twodepending end portions, a first end portion of the tension member beinganchored to the outer end of the lift arm and the second end portion ofthe tension member having a head sling supported therefrom, weight meanssupported from said lift arm intermediate said axis and the outerterminal end of said lift arm and adjustably posi- V tionabletherealong, said base defining a downwardly opening channel extendingtransversely of said support arm for embracingly engaging the uppermarginal edge portion of a door, said channel being defined between apair of depending generally parallel flange portions supported foradjustable positioning toward and away from each other, said inner endsof said support and lift arms being supported from the outer surface ofone of said flanges remote from the other flange.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the inner opposing surfaces ofsaid flanges are covered with a resilient protective coating.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper marginal portion of saidlift arm has a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches formedtherein, said weight means including a suspension hook removablyengageable in said notches.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said head sling includes anelongated flexible strap disposed in a vertical loop with its upperportion anchored to the end of said tension member remote from the freeend of said lift arm, and an adjustable length brace secured between andfrictionally engaged with the upper portions of the sides of said loopwith said upper portions frictionally retained against longitudinaldisplacement relative to the opposite ends of said brace.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said sling includes a secondflexible adjustable strap arranged in an upwardly opening and inclinedloop, the upper ends of said second loop being secured to the sides ofthe first loop below the opposite ends of said brace.

6. A variable weight traction unit comprising an inverted U- shaped baseadapted to embracingly engage the upper marginal edge portion of ahorizontally swingable door, a support arm structure projectinghorizontally outwardly from one side of said base, a generallyhorizontal lift arm disposed on said one side of said base and generallyparalleling said support arm, one end of said lift arm being pivotallysecured to said one side of said base for swinging about a horizontalaxis extending transversely of said lift arm, a pulley assemblysupported from the outer end of said support arm, an elongated flexibletension member passed over said pulley assembly and having a first endsecured to the end of said lift arm remote from said base, the other endof said tension member having a head sling supported therefrom, and aweight supported from said lift arm and adjustably positionabletherealong.

1. A support assembly for stationary mounting from a suitable supportstructure, said support assembly including a base adapted for mountingon said support structure and including a horizontally outwardlyprojecting support arm, a lift arm including a first inner end pivotallysupported from said base below the inner end of the support arm forrotation about a horizontal axis relative to the base and including anouter end spaced below the outer end of the support arm, tension memberguide means carried by the outer end of the support arm, an elongatedflexible tension member looped over the guide means and including twodepending end portions, a first end portion of the tension member beinganchored to the outer end of the lift arm and the second end portion ofthe tension member having a head sling supported therefrom, weight meanssupported from said lift arm intermediate said axis and the outerterminal end of said lift arm and adjustably positionable therealong,said base defining a downwardly opening channel extending transverselyof said support arm for embracingly engaging the upper marginal edgeportion of a door, said channel being defined between a pair ofdepending generally parallel flange portions supported for adjustablepositioning toward and away from each other, said inner ends of saidsupport and lift arms being supported from the outer surface of one ofsaid flanges remote from the other flange.
 2. The combination of claim 1wherein the inner opposing surfaces of said flanges are covered with aresilient protective coating.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein theupper marginal portion of said lift arm has a plurality oflongitudinally spaced notches formed therein, said weight meansincluding a suspension hook removably engageable in said notches.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said head sling includes an elongatedflexible strap disposed in a vertical loop with its upper portionanchored to the end of said tension member remote from the free end ofsaid lift arm, and an adjustable length brace secured between andfrictionally engaged with the upper portions of the sides of said loopwith said upper portions frictionally retained against longitudinaldisplacement relative to the opposite ends of said brace.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein said sling includes a second flexibleadjustable strap arranged in an upwardly opening and inclined loop, theupper ends of said second loop being secured to the sides of the firstloop below the opposite ends of said brace.
 6. A variable weighttraction unit comprising an inverted U-shaped base adapted toembracingly engage the upper marginal edge portion of a horizontallyswingable door, a support arm structure projecting horizontallyouTwardly from one side of said base, a generally horizontal lift armdisposed on said one side of said base and generally paralleling saidsupport arm, one end of said lift arm being pivotally secured to saidone side of said base for swinging about a horizontal axis extendingtransversely of said lift arm, a pulley assembly supported from theouter end of said support arm, an elongated flexible tension memberpassed over said pulley assembly and having a first end secured to theend of said lift arm remote from said base, the other end of saidtension member having a head sling supported therefrom, and a weightsupported from said lift arm and adjustably positionable therealong.